Placebo by Steven James ~ review

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Revell (November 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800734254
• ISBN-13: 978-0800734251

This book is also available as an e-book.

Publication Date: November 1, 2012 | Series: The Jevin Banks Experience (Book 1)

While covertly investigating a controversial neurological research program, exposé filmmaker Jevin Banks is drawn into a far-reaching conspiracy involving one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms. After giving up his career as an escape artist and illusionist in the wake of his wife and sons' tragic death, Jevin is seeking not only answers about the questionable mind-to-mind communication program, but also answers to why his family suffered as they did.

Rooted in ground-breaking science and inspired by actual research, Placebo explores the far reaches of science, consciousness, and faith. Readers will love this taut, intelligent, and emotionally gripping new thriller from master storyteller Steven James.

My take on this book:

"Placebo" by Steven James was a book that pulled me in with the beginning chapters. Jevin Banks feels like a failure for letting his wife and two sons die, and has struggled with this for the last thirteen months. So for the last year after their death he has been using his background as an illusionist to replicate the tricks and effects of fake psychics, and con men, debunking their abilities, exposing them on film. When his latest assignment has him exposing Dr.Tambryn,who has been studying a mind to mind communication program, but their assignment changes when an assassin tries to kill the doctor. What has Jevin and his team stumbled into?

I was pulled in by the first chapter of the story, but then the plot dragged a bit for me. I think it was because I was trying to learn the characters, and their relevance to the story. I always enjoy mystery and suspense, and while this book has that and more I often felt the story drug a bit because of scientific aspect of it. Overall, this was just a middle of the road read for me. It was interesting, but I did find myself skimming thru bits of the story. 

rating 3/5

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


Available November 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.